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Sunday, June 9, 2013

The object of the day: Piguet and Meylan Pocket Watch

We don’t often talk about pocket watches on Longitude because
wristwatches are “of our time”. However, we do plan to bring to your
attention pieces that are noteworthy, especially because they offer good
value in the present market. For example, a watch with with elaborate
decorative elements or those with complications such as a minute
repeater, tourbillon and perpetual calendar will cost a fraction of the
same combination in a watch.

On November 12, 2012
at Christie’s Important Watches auction is a wondrous collection of
pocket watches made in Switzerland for the Chinese market. A couple
spent several decades putting together this collection of enamel pocket
watches from the 19th century made for the Chinese market. Specially
curated for their unique beauty, they not only display intricate scenes
and designs but also important movements.
While all of these pocket watches are exceptional, this quarter
repeater signed by Piguet and Meylan stands out. Made for a Chinese
dignitary, it features an interpretation in champlevé enamel of an
allegorical scene after Pierre-Paul Prud’hon’s “Love Seduces Innocence,
Pleasure Leads Them On, Repentance Follows” interpreted by Jean-Abraham
Lissignol. How important is this watch? Well, you decide. Patek Philippe
placed on permanent display in their museum a nearly identical pair of
quarter repeaters signed by Piguet and Meylan with the the same scene
also attributed to Lissignol.

Partners from 1811 through 1828, Isaac-Daniel Piguet and
Philippe-Samuel Meylan made some of the most significant (and expensive)
watches of the 19th century. Piguet was known for pieces with carillons
and en -passant hour, and quarter striking clock watches, while Meylan
specialized in thin watches and and those with musical automata. Piguet
and Meylan spared no expense when casing their watches. For this watch,
they sought out brothers Louis-David-Benjamin of the renowned firm
Fréres Ultramare, who made spectacular and luxurious gold cases, this
one with pearls circling the bezel and band.

This Piguet & Meylan is an unparalleled example of a pocket watch in
the 19th century that highlights the best of artistic expression and
high watchmaking. this pocket watch went up for sale, there was fierce bidding,
culminating in a price over triple the estimate! Still, this doesn’t
mean collectors can’t get beautiful pieces at sane prices. This pocket
watch is highly important because of the maker, the complication, and
the artist responsible for the enamel work. Who knows what a pocket
watch that you buy today could be worth down the road. Something to
think about…
Estimate: $84,000-130,000
Sale Price: $459,000